Assistant Principal SEND & Inclusion
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About Oaklands College
Oaklands College is a large further education provider in Hertfordshire, serving over 8,000 students across campuses in St Albans, Welwyn Garden City and Borehamwood, alongside a growing online presence and arable farm. Established in 1921, the College has a strong heritage of delivering responsive, high-quality education and supporting students to achieve their ambitions and contribute to their communities.
The College offers a broad range of academic and vocational programmes, including A-Levels, apprenticeships, higher education and specialist courses in areas such as engineering, construction, business, creative industries and elite sport. It is nationally recognised for its outstanding provision for learners with mild and severe learning difficulties, with a significant proportion of students receiving additional support.
Oaklands is ambitious and forward-looking, committed to expanding opportunities for young people, adults and apprentices to develop skills, reskill or upskill for the future. This is underpinned by a strong focus on high standards, innovation and collaboration between staff and students, ensuring learners are well prepared for progression into employment or further study.
Recently recognised with strong Ofsted judgements, the College continues to build on its reputation for excellence. Despite a challenging further education landscape, Oaklands remains a vibrant and supportive community, proud to be ranked 7th nationally for the achievement of young people and within the top 10% overall.
The Future
As Oaklands College expands, it is entering a significant phase of growth, building on over 100 years of educational excellence in Hertfordshire. With a clear mission to prepare learners for work, careers and life, the Group is adapting to meet the demands of a changing skills landscape.
Its strategy is centred on delivering high-quality teaching and learning, strengthening employer partnerships, and aligning the curriculum to local, regional and national priorities. Investment in modern, technology-enabled facilities will further support innovation and growth.
A key strength is its integrated model, bringing together further and higher education, apprenticeships, professional training, elite sport and commercial activity. This approach, alongside strong employer engagement will support workforce development and regional economic growth.
Looking ahead, Oaklands College aims to expand its reach while maintaining its strong community focus, positioning itself as a leading provider that develops talent, supports industry and delivers meaningful social impact.
Assistant Principal SEND & Inclusion
The Assistant Principal for SEND & Inclusion will provide operational leadership across the College, ensuring a high quality, inclusive and industry-relevant curriculum offer across all areas within their remit. They will lead on the design, delivery and performance of provision ensuring it is aligned to local, regional and national skills priorities, ensuring students with additional needs, disabilities and barriers to learning are fully supported to achieve, progress and succeed.
As a member of the Senior Management Team, the Assistant Principal will drive excellence in teaching, learning and assessment, securing strong outcomes for students and apprentices. The postholder will play a key role in achieving ‘Exceeding Expectations’ Ofsted judgements, Distinction QAA outcomes, and positioning Oaklands within the top Colleges nationally for all ages, for quality outcomes and impact.
Senior Scope & Accountability
The postholder holds leadership responsibility for:
Curriculum planning, performance and quality of inclusion, SEND and additional learning support provision across all ages and levels, including study programmes, apprenticeships, adult, higher education and learning for leisure.
Inclusive teaching, learning and assessment standards across the area.
Student outcomes, including achievement, retention, attendance, wellbeing and progression for students with additional needs across all ages.
Compliance with SEND legislation, the SEND code of practice, EHCP requirements, funding, and all relevant regulatory requirements.
Curriculum innovation and development aligned to employer need and workforce priorities
Employer partnerships, industry engagement and work‑related learning, ensuring strong alignment between provision and labour market demand
Contribution to inspection, quality assurance and external regulation, including Ofsted, QAA, OfS and awarding bodies
Digital, data and AI‑enabled inclusive practice and support systems enhancing quality, efficiency and student experience.
Student wellbeing and equitable access to learning opportunities across all ages.
Effective management of staff, resources and budgets within remit
Key Responsibilities
1. Curriculum Leadership & Development
Lead the strategic planning, development and continuous improvement of the SEND & Inclusion curriculum offer.
Ensure provision is responsive to labour market intelligence, employer demand and skills priorities, particularly within SEND, ALS and LIFE provision.
Drive curriculum innovation of all courses, at all levels, including programme development and progression pathways into employment, apprenticeships and higher education.
Ensure students receive high quality support that enables independence, confidence and successful outcomes.
Ensure clear, inclusive progression pathways into further learning, employment, higher education.
Ensure clear and inclusive student journeys across all provision types.
2. Teaching, Learning, Assessment & Quality
Provide strong leadership and clear expectations for high quality, learning and assessment across provision for students and apprentices of all ages.
Work in partnerships with the Quality Team to drive sustained improvements in student progress, achievement and outcomes across all student groups.
Ensure robust assessment practices, maintaining validity, reliability and integrity across all programmes and levels of study.
Ensure best practice and continuous professional development for curriculum staff.
3. Inclusion, Equality & Student Experience
Embed inclusive practice across all curriculum areas, ensuring equitable access, participation and achievement for students of all ages and across all provision types.
Identify and address barriers to student success, particularly for disadvantaged and vulnerable students across all student groups.
Promote a positive student experience, including high standards of behaviour, attendance, wellbeing and engagement for all.
Ensure students with SEND and additional needs experience a safe, supportive and ambitious learning environment.
Support the implementation of the College‑wide Inclusion Strategy across all areas of provision.
4. English, Maths & Core Skills
Ensure delivery, quality, consistency, and impact of English, Maths and Core Skills across the area
Promote the integration of literacy, numeracy and digital skills within curriculum delivery to support student success and employability.
5. Industry Engagement & Employer Partnerships
Develop and maintain strong partnerships with local authorities, schools, employers and external agencies and support services.
Use labour market intelligence and employer insight to inform curriculum planning and development, ensuring provision reflects industry practice, standards and evolving workforce needs.
Work collaboratively with employers and Oaklands Training & Development to design and develop new programmes, aligned to skills demand and commercial opportunities.
Ensure effective collaboration with parents, carers and external professionals to support student progress and achievement.
Contribute to local and regional SEND networks and partnership to support best practice and strategic development.
Support the development of progression routes into employment and apprenticeships.
6. Performance & Quality Improvement
Take accountability for curriculum performance, using data to monitor, evaluate and drive improvements across all student groups and provision types.
Identify risks and underperformance, implementing timely and effective interventions to improve student outcomes.
Ensure the College is inspection ready, contributing to Ofsted, QAA and internal and external quality review processes.
Support self-assessment and quality improvement planning across all areas of provision.
7. Digital, Data & AI-Enabled Practice
Lead the effective use of digital systems, data and AI across the curriculum to improve quality, insight and outcomes.
Model the responsible and effective use of AI within the role to enhance efficiency, ensuring ongoing awareness of developments, risks and best‑practice guidance.
8. Resources, Finance & Sustainability
Manage budgets within the curriculum area, ensuring effective financial planning and value for money.
Provide strategic and operational oversight of high needs funding, ensuring that funding allocations are effectively aligned to student need and that provision is appropriately resourced.
Align curriculum delivery with affordability and sustainability.
Ensure efficient deployment of staffing, timetabling, and resources.
9. Leadership & Management
Provide visible, values‑led leadership across campuses and curriculum areas.
Support the Deputy Principal in the effective leadership and management of the College, deputising as campus lead when required.
Provide leadership for key strategic area/s across the College, leading their development and implementation to deliver measurable impact and improvement.
Act as duty manager on a rota basis and take part in College meet & greet activities, supporting a visible and proactive senior presence.
Support talent development, succession planning and staff performance management.
Person Specification
Essential Criteria:
Educated to degree level or equivalent professional qualification.
Teaching qualification or equivalent professional recognition.
Significant senior leadership experience within FE, sixth form or related education environment.
Proven leadership of leading curriculum performance, quality and performance improvement.
Strong understanding of Ofsted EIF and inspection requirements.
Experience within one or more relevant sectors of Inclusion, SEND or Additional Learning Support services.
Experience of leading and management staff and resources effectively.
Strong employer engagement and partnership experience.
Financial awareness and budget management experience, specifically High Needs Funding.
Ability to lead inclusively, and promote equality, diversity and inclusion.
Credible, values‑led leader able to inspire, challenge and hold staff to account.
Demonstrable understanding of how to use AI tools appropriately and effectively within the role, with a commitment to keeping knowledge up to date.
Desirable Criteria:
Experience across multiple provision types (16–19, adults, HE or apprenticeships).
Experience working in partnership with employers in professional and digital sectors.
Experience within a multi-campus or group organisation.
Postgraduate or senior leadership qualification.
Experience of contributing Outstanding/Exceeding Expectations inspection outcomes.
Experience of digital or AI‑enabled curriculum transformation.